As 120 copies of the book sold out within the first hour, it became clear that Gennari was the “next big thing” in the sphere of science fiction.
Not even the man of the day himself was prepared for such an astounding result.
“I expected around 70 of my friends to come,” Gennari said.
“They came, and then another 320 or so followed.”
A former primary school teacher, Gennari undertook a decade of research to see his book come to fruition.
Having read most of the major religious texts, from the Catholic Bible to the Koran, and studied world mythology, alternative archaeology and astronomy, architecture, and ancient cultures, Gennari was equipped with a vast amount of knowledge which would evolve into his own series of texts.
“I wanted to know the history behind all of these areas, and the ethics and morals I got from those stories were very aligned,” the author said.
Battle for Skeptron: The First Uncovering is a coming-of-age tale in which a company of multi-racial allies embark on a quest to locate the Skeptron, an inter-dimensional artefact which doesn’t belong on the planet and could prove perilous in the wrong hands.
Targeted towards young adults with a love for classic sci-fi works, Gennari’s novel was immediately baptised into the science fiction world with a raving review from Lord of the Rings actor Craig Parker.
Inspired by the “mysterious” world in which we live, Gennari explains that while his novel was not intended as an allegory for the real world, there is an underlying message woven throughout the text which we can apply to our everyday lives.
“I wanted the book to have its own merit, and no place, person or race corresponds with planet earth,” he said.
“However the message is that of all of the major literature I read: love one another, forgive, persevere and shine light in all the dark places of yourself. If I can give people that, that’s more than enough for me.”
Raised in Brunswick by a Calabrian mother and a half-Neapolitan, half-Triestine father, Gennari has also incorporated aspects of his ancestry into the novel.
Aside from referencing Italy’s favourite seasonal treat, panettone, in the first chapter, Gennari made a conscious effort to create names of Greco-Roman origins, such as the ancient Greek name Atreus, which inspired the protagonist’s name, Areus.
Battle for Skeptron: The First Uncovering ends on a cliff-hanger, and has already left hundreds of fans begging for answers.
Fortunately for them, Gennari is well underway with the sequel, to be published within the next year.
With a third and possible fourth instalment of the series on the horizon, it seems that Australia has found its very own J. R. R. Tolkien.
